USC's Top Paid Employees

USC's latest tax returns are out, and once again we can take a glimpse into the wallets of the university's highest earners. There's a newcomer in the top five: assistant football coach Steve Sarkisian.

The most eye-catching number is that Pete Carroll was the first college football coach to breach the $4 million mark. Last year, Nick Saban signed a similar deal at Alabama that caused a lot of public debate and discussion of a Congressional inquiry. Carroll was already making that -- plus 10% -- a season earlier.

If you ask Forbes Magazine, Carroll is actually underpaid by 14%.

These numbers are from USC's 2006 IRS 990 filing. In plain English, that covers the 2006-07 academic year. As a private institution, the school does not have to release contract information and other details (as most public schools do).

1. Pete Carroll - Head Football Coach

• Compensation: $3,953,648
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $84,566
• Expense Account: $20,672
• Excluded from compensation is $377,500 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $4,436,386

2. Tim Floyd - Head Basketball Coach

• Compensation: $971,264
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $61,019
• Expense Account: $6,328
• Excluded from compensation is $62,500 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $1,101,111

3. Brian Henderson - Dean of Keck School of Medicine

• Compensation: $748,695
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $79,686
• Expense Account: $3,813
• Excluded from compensation is $57,088 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $889,282

4. Mike Garrett - Athletic Director

• Compensation: $659,489
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $77,181
• Expense Account: $19,774
• Excluded from compensation is $46,750 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $803,194

5. Steve Sarkisian - Assistant Football Coach

• Compensation: $597,784
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $73,091
• Expense Account: $3,128
• Excluded from compensation is $30,377 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $704,380

University President Steven Sample would actually rank third, but his compensation as a trustee is listed separately from employees. Here's how his package breaks down:

• Compensation: $740,764
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $96,139
• Expense Account: $71,801
• Excluded from compensation is $69,875 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $978,579

President Sample is also provided with housing of undisclosed value.

USC reported a total revenue of $2.7 billion in 2006-07 and total expenses of $2.06 billion. The school closed the year with just shy of $6 billion in assets and just over $1.1 billion in liabilities.

-- Adam Rose

Comments

[Bill]

USC is the ONLY football game in town! All games are either SOLD OUT or near capacity. So to say what Pete Carroll does is only for USC is extremely short-sighted. He keeps LA on the NFL football map, and his salary needs to be compared that of an NFL coach. Two BCS appearances in the last five years? How much would an NFL coach get for two Super Bowl appearances?
Lastly, don't blame USC for LA's problems.

[Pete Carroll is overated]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Pete Carroll is overpayed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's why:

1. Norm Chow got him 3 Heismans and 2 titles. Could have been 3 titles, but it was Pete's decision to put a Freshman to stop Vince Young. Vince had 4 or 5 rush TD's.

2. Great recruiter? NO! SC has never had a problem with that. Even in SC's dark years they had 1st round draft picks (Keyshawn). They just never had Norm Chow.

3. Easiet place to coach is SC. Players in your back yard, L.A. exposure, and with its tradition and history no school on the west coast can match. Plus sports agents in your backyard provides extra incentives.

4. Players get arrested for guns, assault, rape, drugs. Dont worry Pete will cover it up. Just show up on Saturdays and make me look great.

USC is a great program. I just feel that Pete is an idiot who stumbled onto a forgotten treasure.

SC fans dont care about the reputation, just do whatever it takes to win so you can have bragging rights.

[pk-in-the-mesa]

Steve you are wrong about the area I have gone to sporting events in that area since 1968 never had a problem day or night. Rams; Clippers; Sc football,tennis,basketball

[Tim]

I am a USC graduate, as is my daughter. I would love to meet Mr. Ayala and his sons. I love the football team, and everything USC, and I love to see people work hard and take advantage of opportunities. The Ayala family is one more reason for me to be proud of my University.

Pete deserves to be paid well.

[David]

that's pathetic that at a higher institution the people that make the most money are those working in sports!

[pk-in-the-mesa]

Pete Carroll is overrated

Clearly you are a fan of another team, you say Chow is the one but why hasn't anybody from Pop Warner to HS to college hired this guy for a head coach. And defense wins ball games at all levels, and yes who ever covered Young was a mistake but there are a few NFL teams with same problem.
paul kelley
ps get a name coward

[Pete Carroll is overated]

pk-in-the-mesa

Are you kiddin me? Norm Chow has been on every Schools most wanted list for the Head Coach position. He prefers not to as he might have to give up his play calling duty (which is obviously his strength), he is just happy to get paid as ONE OF THE MOST HIGHEST PAID COORDINATORS IN THE GAME. Most Schools dont even bother to ask him anymore. FYI, he withdrew his name from the Head Coaching position for Hawaii, and UCLA after Dorrell was fired. You should get your ____ straight before you speak.

Yes, defense does win championships, however,

1. Pete has a defensive coordinator who calls the plays, not him.

2. Most Head Coaches were once coaches on the offensive side of the ball. Why? Because coordinating the offense is much harder than coordinating the defense as long as you have the talent. Everyone knows that. And as I stated in the first comment we all know how Pete gets his talent$$$$$$. The only way he got to be a Head Coach was he sweet talked his way. Just like with his recruits. He never had any claim to fame producing great Linebacker, etc. or running any great Defenses. BTW USC usually has always had the best D in the league.

3. All those National title teams will be known for their offense, Lendale White, Matt Leinhart (who seems to be strugling without Norm), and Reggie Bush (who will soon be answering to the court of law for how he got his $ in college). Dont worry though im sure Reggie settle out of Court.

I am very fond of the program and SC fans should be very proud. After Notre Dames over-inflated history, they are one of the best ever. However lets just admit that Pete is just a sweet talker who stumbled upon a forgotten treasure (i have said that before). And because of him, and his lack of authority, the program has serious black eyes. It is ashamed the country is so descensitized by this.

Also why is important to know my name? What are we dating?

[Pk-in-the-mesa]

Whatever your name is
It shows creditability when you sign your name, you know like when you sign for something that’s all. Chow is a dead horse and he pulled his name because he didn’t like it or he new they were going to say no.

[Gman]

All the negative comments about Pete and the Trojans are obviously from haters who probably are Bruins. You gotta stop drinking that "Hatorade" guys. What the hell does his record in the pros have to do with his college record? Did you forget that Lou Holtz coached in the NFL and nobody says he wasn't a great college coach? Sure Norm Chow is a great offensive coordinator but it was his exposure while at SC that got him notoriety. Hell, you probably didn't even know who he was when he was at BYU for over 20 years. And last but not least the location of the school. Just because the school isn't in the best neighborhood doesn't mean it can't be a good school. You gotta be a racist to make that comment. Have you ever been to Columbia in NY?

[Pete Carroll is overated]

GMAN........ARE YOU KIDDIN ME TOO?

Have I heard of Norm Chow while at BYU? Well let me see.....

1. He coached 5 First Team All-American QB's Gifford Nielson, Marc Wilson, Jim Mcmahon (Super Bowl winner) Yeah I know hes overated, STEVE YOUNG (I dont know if you've heard of him),

2. TY DETMER who Won the HEISMAN? Robbie Bosco who finished third in the voting for the Heisman.

3. He won a National Title in 1984 while running the offense at BYU.

4. Because of all of this BYU developed a reputation as Quarterback U.

So yeah, I kinda heard of him before he came to SC. He also coached Philip Rivers for one year while he ran the offense at NC state. Philip won Freshman of the year. Also the Head Coach at BYU (Lavell Edwards) has said that he would have not gotten near any of his success had it not been for Norm. Pete will never say that.

Anyway now that we have established that Norm has great credentials. WHAT WAS COACH CARROLLS CLAIM TO FAME? Did he produce any great defenses? NO. Did he produce any great secondaries? NO. He sweet talked his way towards everything.

P.S. What the hell does Columbia have to do with this? I am talking about his players not the community. He lets them do whatever they want while he covers it up. And fine Lou Holtz is overated too. I didnt say Pete was the only one. At least Lou kicked of students for bad behavior. P.S. Randy Moss had wanted to go to Notre Dame, but he had an assault charge and Lou told him no thanks. Can Pete ever say that. NO. Just play for me and help me look great.

[Pk-in-the-mesa]

dude you are lost